i live in southwest florida and have 39,000sq ft of st augstine grass and i have been taking care of it for 10+ years it has always looked good.but things at work have been very busy and other hobbies have cut into my yard time.i have commerical equipment to take care of the lawn i have a toro z master ztr and all stihl weedeaters and blower and stick edger.i also have a lesco ss spreader but pushing that thing thru 39k sq ft of grass is a real pain plus the time it takes to do this and do it right.i am thinking about hiring somebody to do it or for me or buy a ride on spreader/sprayer.question is i was thinking about getting a z-spray jr or do you guys think thats a waste of money for a home onwer to spend to take care of that much yard? i had somebody come out and give me a price on taking care of it bi monthly and the yearly price was like $3000.00 per year that was ferti fugi and pest control...after a few years i could pay for the damn z-spray jr.i called lesco and got what i have spent on avg over the last serval years and it was on avg 400.00-500.00.so i fi bump up the the money i spend at lesco to say 750.00 per year and pay the machine 3000.00 a year i have bought the machine and the product in 3 years...i am not to worried about me breaking the z-spray b/c i am sure it will last me along time hell my toro is 8years old and the only i have done to it is change the oil grease it and put blades on it and 2 batteries so i am pretty sure the z-spray will last that and i will get my money back out of it what do you guys think? waste of money ? i do like working in the yard i don't see it has a chore i like looking back at my yard when i am done just trying to cut donw on the time it takes to do it and be able to do a better job then with just a push type spreader and being able to spray will be great right now i do it with a solo back pack sprayer...tks for the input

also what kills beggarweed? in st augstine

indyturf

06-02-2007, 12:24 AM

I would look for a used PG, you can find a Magnum for around $3500. and with the low hours you will put on it you will get good $$ back when you sell it. if you don't want to buy used check out Lesco's HPS riding spreader and put a PG sprayer on it. you could get both for around 3K.

gregory

06-02-2007, 01:08 AM

tks indy but the lesco hps is 3k down here and to add the spray tank from gregson clark will cost about 800.00 more so for 3800.00 it would cost me to go this way i have talked to some guys that used to work for lesco they kinda gave me the felling of stay awau from that machine.trust me i would love to only spend 4k and be set but i don't want to spend 4k and reget it 2years later and then have to spend another 4k for a new one or go out and buy a z-spray after all. what do you use indy?

i thought about buying a used pg magnum i see pg had some 2005 magnum on there site the price ranges from 5k to 5500.00. i went down to the local dealer and looked at the z-spray jr it looks like a very well bult machine but i will have to sell some toys to buy it...anybody else got any input?

also anybody know anything about quicksliver? i see it kills fl beggarweed...

indyturf

06-02-2007, 02:21 AM

I have a 05 PG Magnum and 2 centri's. I use the Magnum and love it, I have about 450 hrs on it now and its still doing great. its easy to work maintain and work on. the Z-spray would be great but you could fertilize your lawn in less than 10-15 min with the PG. even an older model like the Centri work do a good job, you can find them for around 2k.

gregory

06-02-2007, 09:09 AM

tks i am going to call some of the one on the pg site and see if they are still for sale..tks

RAlmaroad

06-02-2007, 10:15 AM

I'm not being rude or mean, but if you can invest that much in your equipment, and fertilize, why don't you hire a pro down there that can apply the right herbicides and pesticides legally and you spend more time on you boat. You'd have both--a beautiful yard and more time to polish the boat. Roy

gregory

06-02-2007, 04:08 PM

i can apply the right herbicides and pesticides legally myself.i am not offened by your comment at all.the reason is #1 i enjoy doing yard work #2 i don't own a boat don't really care for one not my thing #3 after say 4 yrs how much have i paid someone to take care of my yard @ 3k a year 12k that will pay for the machine and the prducts i have put out even if i spend 1k a year on product which i am sure i won't but you get the picture how long would it take to spray my yard and spread out some fertilizer what maybe 2hrs every other month.i understand i am paying a markup on the product and i am paying labor for someone to spread it out also .so after 5 years i have paid 15k if i buy a machine like a z-spray thats 8800.00 and spend 1k on product thats only 13800.00 so after 5 years i have saved 1200.00 by doing it myself i guess its not much i would only save maybe 250.00 a year not much but if i decide to sell the machine after 5years i am sure to get a good return on it also since i have only used it on my yard only am i am sure the hrs will be very low hell my toro i have had since 99 it has less then 200hrs on it ...i see your point but sometimes i like doing things myself..i am sure i will think about it more before i run out and buy a machine hell i would save even more if i got the permegreen from lesco its 2900.00 less then the z-spray i went by lesco's today and he s going to have a pg magnum there next weekend for me to look at .if i went that route i would save 4k over 5 years b/c that machine cost less......just wanted some input from the pro's

DUSTYCEDAR

06-02-2007, 04:14 PM

well it sounds like u have a plan so just let us know what u buy :)

mkroher

06-02-2007, 08:21 PM

You want to spend 3K on a machine for a lawn that's only 39K sqft?

PSUTURFGEEK

06-02-2007, 08:46 PM

on average it wouldn't save you much doing it yourself, even if you do 5-6 apps/ year youre still talking less than 1000.00 for a professional to do it and the other way to look at it is, letting a pro do it is like an insurance policy for your lawn if you do get breakthrough and need renovated it's usually on them depending upon thier guarantee.

gregory

06-02-2007, 10:45 PM

You want to spend 3K on a machine for a lawn that's only 39K sqft?

yes thats what i am planning on doing..its a real pain in the ass to push a lesco spreader thru st augustine..if i got a z-spray and paid 8800.00 for it i would have it for i bet more then 10yrs hell my toro z master is a 1999 and i haven't had to do anything to it and i paid almost 6k for it but it the long run i haven't had to do anything to it but change the oil and put blades on it and 2 batteries well worth the money if you aks me i hate having to fix something b/c i was cheap and spend half the day fixing a mower to mow the grass.its not like i won't always have a yard to spray or fertilize..

gregory

06-02-2007, 10:51 PM

on average it wouldn't save you much doing it yourself, even if you do 5-6 apps/ year youre still talking less than 1000.00 for a professional to do it and the other way to look at it is, letting a pro do it is like an insurance policy for your lawn if you do get breakthrough and need renovated it's usually on them depending upon thier guarantee.

i wouldn't be saving much? what are you talking about they want to charge me $3,000.00 to do the whole yard thats $3000.00 a year not $1000.00 a year but 3k hell after 5yrs i have paid them 15,000 ..yeah your right its like a insurance policy i understand that but sod not that expenseive it only 65.00 a pallet for 400.00sq ft pallet...if it only cost 1000.00 a year i would jump all over it but wonder how they are going to make money.....

i guess some of you are thinking i am crazy for buying a machine like a z-spray jr.i might be but i see it will save me money in the long run what would some of the cons be of me taking care of the yard myself?

CuttingEdge,LLC

06-02-2007, 11:44 PM

i wouldn't be saving much? what are you talking about they want to charge me $3,000.00 to do the whole yard thats $3000.00 a year not $1000.00 a year but 3k hell after 5yrs i have paid them 15,000 ..yeah your right its like a insurance policy i understand that but sod not that expenseive it only 65.00 a pallet for 400.00sq ft pallet...if it only cost 1000.00 a year i would jump all over it but wonder how they are going to make money.....

i guess some of you are thinking i am crazy for buying a machine like a z-spray jr.i might be but i see it will save me money in the long run what would some of the cons be of me taking care of the yard myself?

Im not sure where you got the quote from when it comes to a professional company doing your lawn but I have customers through my daily job that pay $130 per treatment for that size of a lawn, so if you get it bi-monthly then thats $780 a year. I also have a customer that has 72k sq ft that pays $390 per. It includes fert, insect control, weed control, and fungicide if needed. For the beggarweed, Manor works great..

gregory

06-03-2007, 12:56 AM

i got that price from masseyservices.com its the first one i got so far....if they would do it for 130.00 per month that i could live with ....i also seen another place had ad that was 29.95 per 3,000 sq feet that would make it 389.00 per app. but that was a special for the first month or something...

gregory

06-03-2007, 01:03 PM

Im not sure where you got the quote from when it comes to a professional company doing your lawn but I have customers through my daily job that pay $130 per treatment for that size of a lawn, so if you get it bi-monthly then thats $780 a year. I also have a customer that has 72k sq ft that pays $390 per. It includes fert, insect control, weed control, and fungicide if needed. For the beggarweed, Manor works great..

i don't see how someone could do it for 130.00 per appl. they would need almost 4 bags of ferti. at say 20.00 a bag thats 80.00 just for the ferti then if you add some kind of pest control and then there time to do it they are not making very much then i would have to wonder if they are doing what they say they are then the profit is just not there at 130.00 per app.

bug-guy

06-03-2007, 04:03 PM

why don't u buy the electric spreader from lesco for about 399.00 and adapt it to your rider than get your after market sprayer for it.
it looks like the push spreader without the frame and has elect mtr to turn the impellar comes w/ remote on /off and open and close

rcreech

06-03-2007, 05:49 PM

Gregory,
Why not buy a Synergy as it is just a Permagreen without a motor? You can still spray and spread at the same time, but instead of sinking 6 grand into a machine you will only have about $700 and still have the same outfit. That is what I would recommend.

gregory

06-03-2007, 06:37 PM

rcreech how do those machines hold up?

PR Fect

06-03-2007, 07:56 PM

why don't u buy the electric spreader from lesco for about 399.00 and adapt it to your rider than get your after market sprayer for it.
it looks like the push spreader without the frame and has elect mtr to turn the impellar comes w/ remote on /off and open and close

Gregory, I was thinking about the same thing. How about a JRCO electric broadcast spreader for the front of that Z-master? Cost about a grand. And just a FYI we do a 40 K for $111.00 an app. here in cheaseland

rcreech

06-03-2007, 08:44 PM

Gregory,

Havn't had it long enough to tell you how it will hold up, but sure it will last, and I have heard nothing but good about it from others that is using it.

It is just a tank that sets in your Lesco spreader. You might want to contact your lesco rep if you have any questions.

gregory

06-03-2007, 09:29 PM

i was looking at the jrco also but i would need the spreader and the sprayer then i have to find a place for the sprayer here at the house...i checked the price on those they would run me 4k for everything......

pr fect how much do you pay for a bag of ferti i am sure you guys get a better price then i do at lesco's thats a pretty good price i would pay that if they wanted that much for it.i am getting more quotes this week

PR Fect

06-04-2007, 12:55 PM

Gregory, yes I would hope our "pallet" price is a little less than you getting it by the bag. It depends on the product of course, and granular fert did take a huge jump this year, but lets say my cost is around $17.00 a bag. That 40K for 111 is 5 apps, 2are granular fert, 1 is granular fert with a preemergant, and two are just broadleaf spray. No insect or grub control, its not needed here, we only do it on a case by case. That and you take into consideration that the product cost for the "spray" is around $0.35 to $0.55 a K depending again on type of product, the numbers start to come into line. Anyway, back to the subject. Look at a Prolawn Shielded sprayer not the JRCO pull behind in combo with the JRCO broadcast spreader. You could shave a nother grand, and your starting to look at about that 3k figure, and you will love the way your lawn looks. We run a prolawn sprayer on our lawns, the results can not be beat from what I have seen. We run a small fert and squirt not allot different than an estate owner like yourself.

gregory

06-05-2007, 09:58 PM

i got somemore prices on my yard they are within 100.00 of each other..one guy told me 1200.00 but all that was was fertilizer only..looking like i am going to be getting me a z-spray

the reason i am going towards the z-spray is b/c you can spray anything thru it the permagreen has limits of what you can spray b/c of the output..and if i buy a permagreen i will have to take it some where else besides lesco's to get it worked on b/c the lesco in town does no service work.and the z-spray dealer in town works on the whole machine from the enigne to the hyd they can work on everything

CuttingEdge,LLC

06-05-2007, 11:54 PM

i don't see how someone could do it for 130.00 per appl. they would need almost 4 bags of ferti. at say 20.00 a bag thats 80.00 just for the ferti then if you add some kind of pest control and then there time to do it they are not making very much then i would have to wonder if they are doing what they say they are then the profit is just not there at 130.00 per app.

My daily Job is a lawn care specialist with a Fortune 500 Co. not saying the name of the company. But I see it every day, people like yourself with that sized lawn for the price I told you..Our insecticide is mixed with our fert right now and the weed control is in a separate tank. So when I would spray your lawn it would get the fert and insecticide. Fungicide is only applied when needed. But at no extra cost. The only things that are extra are the fire ant treatment or an aeration...Any issues you may have all you would have to do is call up and get a free service call to address any issue, as long as you have at least 5 apps a year. Either way good luck with whatever decision you make.